Israeli Military Rabbinate Issues Yom Kippur Guidelines for Soldiers

The Israeli Military Rabbinate has issued specific guidelines for soldiers observing Yom Kippur, emphasizing that those on active combat missions in enemy territory are not only exempt from fasting but are forbidden from doing so to maintain their operational readiness. For other soldiers, such as technicians working in heat or those on duty in headquarters, the rabbinate has established rules for consuming food and water in reduced portions, known as 'le-shiurim'.

Rabbi Udi Schwartz, head of the Military Rabbinate's Halakha department, explained these directives in an interview. He also revealed that the rabbinate has distributed a special prayer, found in an ancient prayer book, for soldiers. This prayer allows a warrior to express their intention to eat for the sake of preserving life and strengthening their ability to defend the nation, seeking merit for this necessary act.

Additionally, the rabbinate has adapted the "Yizkor" memorial prayer to include those who died for the sanctification of God's name and the defense of the homeland, for grieving families. In preparation for the upcoming Sukkot holiday, the army is preparing traditional large sukkahs for bases and compact "tactical sukkahs" for forward positions, ensuring soldiers can fulfill the commandment even in challenging environments.

A recent halakhic ruling permits building sukkahs under anti-drone nets at northern bases. The 'le-shiurim' method, meaning "by measures" or "in portions," is a halakhic practice allowing consumption of small amounts of food or water during a fast for individuals whose health or life is at risk, with minimal intake (around 30 ml of liquid or olive-sized portions of food) at intervals to sustain strength without violating the fast.